Collapse, I became Duck's daughter at the start?

Theresa hadn't expected Bronya and Lin Li to make her cry the moment they met. Now that both parties were in a bad mood, continuing the conversation would likely only make things worse.

Especially this little one, who was impossibly well-behaved. To feel so guilty about Bronya's reaction that she cried, Theresa felt a pang of sympathy.

"...Alright, Director."

Bronya took a deep breath.

To be honest, judging from her reaction just now, her personality was exactly like Seele's. However, based on her subtle expressions and gaze, she wasn't Seele.

Bronya also regretted her actions just now.

Most of the time, for a child, small actions could easily cause long-lasting psychological damage.

The more well-behaved someone was, the more they tended to internalize based on others' reactions, just like Seele back then.

Gentle yet sensitive, thoughtful yet fragile.

"What am I even thinking..."

Standing outside the Director's office, Bronya bit her lip.

"Hoo..."

Theresa looked at the little one in Kiana's arms with some concern.

Based on the investigation results from earlier, the streets had shown no other abnormalities besides Lin Li. This meant that those two people were undoubtedly killed by Lin Li.

However, considering Lin Li's well-behaved personality and demeanor, it was highly probable that she had been severely provoked at the time, causing her Stigmata power to erupt.

She wasn't worried about losing control herself, but frequent outbursts of Stigmata power could potentially have irreversible effects on the child.

"Kiana, give Lin Li back to me."

Theresa said, looking at Kiana, who was still nuzzling the child, with annoyance.

"No way, Auntie. I'll hold her. Besides, I've developed well, and my body is much softer than yours, Auntie."

Kiana refused without a second thought.

It was a joke; after finally getting to hold her again, would she really hand her back?

"Listen to Auntie, Ki-a-na!"

Theresa reached out to grab Lin Li, but Kiana dodged her.

"I refuse!"

Watching Theresa and Kiana chase each other, "Lin Li" pursed her lips slightly, then looked at her own hands and turned away with a soft huff.

"I don't want to be held."

Chapter Six: Biological Genius Kiana

"Little Lin Li, you mean Bronya hasn't met you before?"

After a brief struggle, Theresa finally managed to get Lin Li back from Kiana's embrace.

She had already collected some samples from Lin Li and sent them for identification against Bronya.

Although her eyes were almost identical to Bronya's, there was still a possibility of coincidence.

"No father, Bronya has never met you before..."

Kiana said, surprised.

"Yes, I grew up in an orphanage in Shenzhou. The director's surname was Lin, and he found me by the Li River, so he named me 'Lin Li'."

Lin Li explained.

"What did that Bronya person do before? Did she even abandon children in Shenzhou?"

Kiana quipped.

"Bronya isn't as simple as you think."

Theresa gently shook her head.

From the first time she met Bronya, she could feel the distinct difference between her and Kiana. Although she always maintained a poker face due to her physical condition, a person's aura was difficult to completely conceal.

"Auntie, do you think that Bronya person could have such a cute child? Her personality is so terrible."

Kiana was still skeptical. Bronya's eyes were quite beautiful, and her appearance was good, but she just had a mouth that wouldn't shut up.

"You're not much better yourself, Kiana."

Theresa was already accustomed to Kiana and Bronya's mutual insults.

"Auntie, is Lin Li going to join the academy too?"

Kiana found her more and more appealing the more she looked at her. Sometimes, it felt as if there was a shimmering light around her, but when she looked closely, everything seemed normal.

"Natural Stigmata. If she wishes to, I would hope she could join the academy."

Theresa nodded.

There weren't many cases like Lin Li, who displayed obvious Stigmata characteristics. Not everyone with Stigmata would show it, but those who did were definitely close to awakening or had already awakened their Stigmata.

Having awakened her Stigmata at such a young age and showing no obvious signs of corrosion indicated a high degree of Stigmata compatibility. If she worked hard enough, she could potentially become an S-rank Valkyrie before the age of twenty.

"Why did little Lin Li come to the Far East, and all by herself? Auntie, how did you get her back?" Kiana asked, confused.

"Kiana, is that how you talk to your aunt? 'Get her back'..." Theresa retorted, annoyed.

"But speaking of which, I don't know how Lin Li ended up in the Far East either. She's so young, she should still be living in an orphanage..."

Although her words were fine, "Lin Li" listening beside them felt something was a bit strange about the implication.

"I... I don't know, I just suddenly arrived in the Far East..."

Lin Li disliked lying, but her current little mind couldn't explain the principle of transmigration, so she could only vaguely say.

"Was little Lin Li's life in the orphanage okay?" Theresa asked. Looking at Lin Li's clothes, they weren't very good, which was a bit strange. By rights, such a delicate little girl should be very likable.

"I... I didn't like it there. The matron, she didn't like me."

Before transmigration, Lin Li grew up in an orphanage. Although she was beautiful from a young age, she was timid and often bullied. The matron, however, greatly favored the children who bullied her.

This led to Lin Li's initial situation not being good. It wasn't until she couldn't stand it anymore and got angry that her forceful attitude scared the children who bullied her.

From then on, no matter what Lin Li thought, her expression was always firm and resolute.

"I hope she's alright."

Seeing the expression on Lin Li's face, Theresa could probably guess something. If Lin Li's Stigmata had been activated in Shenzhou, the outcome was foreseeable.

"Wait, Lin Li, have you always known about your Bronya mother?" Kiana asked. Based on Lin Li's previous reaction, she clearly knew about Bronya.

"Mhm." Lin Li nodded.

"That bad egg Bronya let little Lin Li be bullied all the time, right?" Kiana said indignantly.

"Bronya mother is very busy," Lin Li explained, defending Bronya when she heard Kiana's words.

"Being busy is an excuse to know nothing?" Kiana was displeased.

While they were chatting and comforting her, the appraisal results from the people sent out also came back.

Although the Far East Branch wasn't as advanced as Headquarters, it was no problem to get the results within two hours.

"The report shows that the probability of Bronya being Lin Li's biological mother is greater than ninety-nine point eight percent."

Although the report was long, some key information was very clear.

"It's really her?" Kiana's tone held a hint of regret, but also a strange joy.

"This is within expectations, though it's a bit strange..." Theresa was still curious about Lin Li's father, as the ages didn't quite match.

"Little Lin Li, do you know why your father abandoned you?" Since Bronya didn't have any information about Lin Li, it was highly probable that Lin Li wasn't born normally. Otherwise, she wouldn't know nothing about her own child.

Since there was no valuable information from Bronya's side, they could only start with her father.

"I don't have a father," Lin Li shook her head as before.

"You don't know?" Theresa continued to ask.

"I don't have one," Lin Li said earnestly.

"..." Lin Li's words made Theresa and Kiana fall into self-doubt.

Based on Lin Li's demeanor, she didn't seem like someone who joked around.

"Hmm... everyone is born from both a dad and a mom, little Lin Li." Theresa felt Lin Li must have misunderstood her meaning and explained again.

"Mhm, I know," Lin Li nodded her little head.

"But I really don't have a dad."

"..."

Theresa fell into thought.

"But I have Bronya-mama, and Seele-mama."

Lin Li added, seeing the confusion on their faces.

"Seele? That's the name Bronya muttered when she saw little Lin Li."

Theresa thought.

"Little Lin Li, your Seele-mama and Bronya-mama can't give birth to you."

Judging by Lin Li's address, this Seele should also be a girl.

"Mm, but I am the child of Seele-mama and Bronya-mama."

Lin Li thought for a moment before earnestly stating.

"..."

Kiana and Theresa exchanged a look.

They suddenly realized that since Lin Li only resembled Bronya in her eyes, and Bronya had even called out Seele's name the moment she saw Lin Li, it meant Lin Li bore a very strong resemblance to that Seele...

"Little Lin Li, do you know what your Seele-mama looks like?"

Kiana asked tentatively.

"Mm... like this?"